Two men each face multiple charges after a woman shot and killed herself outside a southeast Indiana bar, prosecutors said.

The body of Clarissa Schultz was found May 20 outside Levee Breaker Bar, officials said. Police said they suspect she took her own life.

Advertisement

However, investigators said they had been unable to close the investigation as they were unable to find a gun or shell casings at the scene.Two men – identified as William Skipton, 44, and Steven Melrose, 46 – are now accused of hindering the investigation, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

According to investigators, Skipton, a friend of Schultz , owned the gun she used to kill herself.

Officials said Skipton, a prior felon, hid the gun and shell casings he picked up near her body in fear of getting in trouble. Investigators said Skipton hid the gun in the ceiling tiles of the bar before police arrived.

Melrose was a bartender at Levee Breaker Bar. He initially told 911 operators that he did not know the whereabouts of the gun used in Schultz's death, but later admitted to seeing Skipton hiding the shell casings and weapon, according to court documents.

The removal of the gun and shell casings – along with misleading statements made to investigators – caused a several-week delay in the investigation, officials said.

Charges were filed against Skipton and Melrose Monday.

Skipton faces charges of assisting suicide, carrying a handgun without a license and operating a motor vehicle after forfeiture of license for life – all felonies.

Melrose is charged with false informing and serving alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person